The Emily Stowe Scholar Program (ESSP) was named in honour of Dr. Emily Stowe, Canada’s first woman doctor. Dr. Stowe aided in establishing Woman’s Medical College in 1883, Toronto’s first medical school for women. The ESSP assembles a community of individuals, foundations and corporations dedicated to breaking down barriers to careers in academics and health leadership.
Currently in Canada, women, in particular those from diverse communities, continue to be underrepresented at all levels of health sciences senior scholarship and leadership. Without equity and diversity in the academic health sciences community, we simply cannot revolutionize healthcare for a healthier and more equitable world. As home to one of the only hospital-based research institutes in the world focused on the health of women, with women comprising over 50 percent of our scientists and physicians, Women’s College Hospital is at the forefront of the change the health care system needs. With a special focus on removing barriers for individuals from communities that are underrepresented in the health sciences, especially for diverse persons, the ESSP has a collective mission to engage, retain and support diverse scholars from early learning through their careers trajectories
Vision
The Emily Stowe Scholar Program will establish relationships that support, mentor and advance the wholistic development of diverse persons who have been systemically and historically excluded in health care and health science career trajectories.
Mission
The mission of the Emily Stowe Scholar Program is to engage, retain and support the advancement of diverse persons by developing pathways that respect diverse experiences, knowledge systems and skillsets from early learning throughout their career trajectories.
How to Apply
This summer, the ESSP is offering research opportunities to high school, undergraduate, medical, and graduate students who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, or racialized women, trans, two-spirit, non-binary, and persons with a disability
Summer Students
Funding is also available for WCH post-doctoral fellows and early to late career scientists who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, racialized, trans, two-spirit or non-binary.
Call for Faculty/Scholars and Projects
We are announcing our call for Emily Stowe Scholars and Projects! In partnership with Women’s College Hospital Foundation, the Emily Stowe Faculty/Scholar and Projects program funds diverse persons, including Black, Indigenous, or racialized women, trans, two-spirit, non-binary, and persons with a disability who have been systemically and historically excluded in healthcare and health science career trajectories.
Stage 1: Expressions of Interest
This initial call in the two-stage process (EOI then full application) intends to provide salary support (offset salary, match a salary award or for protected time) or project-specific support.
Scholars are expected to provide mentorship activities directed at supporting other ESSP Scholars and students. This includes participation in networking events and mentoring sessions.
EOIs must be submitted through REDCap by September 13th, 2024 at 4 pm. You will be notified in November 2025 about your application’s status and if applicable, invited to submit a full proposal by January 6th, 2025. Projects must start no later than April 1st, 2025.
Stage 2: Full Application
Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application through the application portal.
Applications will be assessed and scored in 5 areas:
- Mentorship/Clinical Instructor experience
- Research/project plan and outline
- Alignment with vision, mission, and values of ESSP and strategic priorities of WCH
- Feasibility of requested budget
- Feasibility of requested duration of funding
General Submission Requirements
When submitting your application through REDCap, the following documents should be uploaded:
- Applicant Information Cover Page
- Answers to Application Questions
- Please adhere to the following formatting:
- Font: Arial, size 11
- Word limit: 2,500 words (single spaced) or five-page maximum. A separate one page for references can be added in addition to the five-pages.
- Signed Agreement Page
Submission
Applicants must submit through the application portal. Click here to access the portal to submit an expression of interest.
Application and Funding Guidelines
Please contact Sharon Tan (Sharon.Tan@wchospital.ca) if you have any questions.
| Timeline | Key Event |
| September 13th, 2024 | Expression of Interest deadline |
| Mid-late October 2024 | Decisions about application/invitation to submit full application released |
| January 6th, 2025 | Full application deadline |
| Mid-February 2025 | Decisions about full application released |
| April 1st, 2025 | Projects start |
Virtual Q&A Sessions
| Q & A Session #1: Thu July 4th: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm |
Q & A Session #2: Tue August 13th: 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. |
| Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 237 769 500 491 Passcode: 48Hmps
Dial in by phone +1 647-749-0217,,194450944# Canada, Toronto Phone conference ID: 194 450 944# |
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 226 825 306 504 Passcode: kRWdaK
Dial in by phone +1 647-749-0217,,286563591# Canada, Toronto Phone conference ID: 286 563 591# |
- Dr. Rulan Parekh, Vice President, Academics (Senior Scholar) | Supporting communities in sub-Saharan Africa
- Dr. Lorraine Lipscombe, Endocrinologist & Senior Scientist (Senior Scholar) | Diabetes prevention and management for low-income and racialized populations
- Dr. Dana Ross, Psychiatrist, Trauma Therapy Program (Senior Scholar) | Communities who are disproportionally impacted by trauma
- Niru Bhanderi, Nurse Practitioner, Bay Centre (Emerging Leader) | Dismantling systemic racism and oppression in sexual and reproductive health
- Faith Delos-Reyes, Registered Kinesiologist, Cardiology (Emerging Leader) | Cardiac rehabilitation specific to Indigenous women
Learn more about their projects here.
Dr. Rulan Parekh, (Rulan.Parekh@wchospital.ca) Vice President of Academics
Sharon Tan (Sharon.Tan@wchospital.ca) Manager, Learner & Student Services
Kristen Dileo (Kristen.Dileo@wchospital.ca) Research Operations Coordinator
Latest News
Get to know and learn about all the work from our Emily Stowe Scholars!
The Emily Stowe Scholars Program is supporting the next generation of leaders working to shape a more equitable health system. Learn more about some of the 2024 students below:
ESSP students participating in the Summer Student Research Program (SSRP) presented their projects to scientists and staff. Their presentations covered a range of topics, including familial breast cancer, genetic risk for diabetic kidney disease, a guide to vaginoplasty and more.
Here’s a sample of the presentations from ESSP students:
